Chapter 272
After leaving Clara White's house, Luna White and her group headed to Mayor George Clark's home for New Year's greetings. The Clarks warmly insisted they stay for a meal, but in the end, only Ethan White and Luna remained while the others took the six children and left first, not wanting to overstay their welcome.
Shortly after the second day of the New Year, Iris White and Henry Cooper returned to town with their children. As the workshop supervisor, Iris had to report back to the factory for duty. The farewell was bittersweet—everyone knew it would be a long time before they saw each other again, scattered as they were across distant places.
After seeing Iris and Henry off, Luna and her sister Luna Whitaker began packing. With three children in tow, they struggled to part with anything. But the sheer volume of belongings forced Luna to make tough choices, setting aside items they wouldn’t need or that would be too cumbersome for the journey. Otherwise, even with extra hands, they’d never manage.
In the midst of packing, Lily Clark suddenly rushed in, calling Luna to the village committee office for a phone call.
"Who could be calling me now?" Luna wondered as she picked up the receiver.
"Luna, Happy New Year." The deep voice on the other end belonged to Andrew Smith, sending warmth flooding through her chest. In this era, a phone call just to say those words was rare.
"Happy New Year! You... how are you?" Her voice softened involuntarily.
"Not well. I miss you." His blunt words made her ears burn. She let out a quiet "Mm," her heartbeat quickening. This reserved man suddenly speaking so openly left her both startled and delighted.
"We’re returning on the fifth day." The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them—they sounded as if she couldn’t wait to see him.
"What time on the fifth? I’ll arrive on the fourth and come pick you up." His voice carried a smile.
"We haven’t settled on a time yet. It depends on when we get our tickets."
"Then I’ll call again the day after to confirm." The line fell silent except for their breathing.
Luna, her face flushed, murmured an agreement before suddenly remembering something. "Where are you now?"
"At home."
"Then... I’ll hang up first." The thought of Helen Turner possibly being there made her reluctant to cause him any trouble.
As she hung up, she met Lily’s teasing gaze, her cheeks growing even hotter.
"That was Instructor Andrew, wasn’t it?" Lily waggled her eyebrows.
Luna hurried away, Lily’s laughter ringing behind her.
On the third day of the New Year, Private Wu arrived with two fellow soldiers to pay their respects. As Andrew’s loyal admirers, they took it upon themselves to look after Luna. Luna and Luna Whitaker prepared a feast, and Ethan joined them as the four men drank and chatted merrily.
When they learned the group planned to return to the city on the fifth, Private Wu immediately promised to help secure train tickets. With the military’s connections, it wouldn’t be difficult.
True to his word, on the fourth day, Private Wu delivered seven sleeper tickets—all but one in adjacent berths. His efficiency left Luna amazed.
Luna Whitaker packed a generous bundle of fried snacks for Private Wu, who, after much polite refusal, finally succumbed to temptation. Before leaving, he promised to drive them to the station the next morning.
At dawn on the fifth day, Private Wu arrived in a truck. Luna, Luna Whitaker, and Samuel Jackson rode in the cab, while Ethan and the three boys, wrapped in coats, sat in the truck bed. The entire Clark family came to see them off, with Clara Clark crying so hard she became a mess. Luna soothed her by promising to bring them to the provincial capital for the next New Year.
No one noticed Lily watching Ryan Wallace and Samuel Jackson leave, quietly making up her mind. Later, she would buy a ticket alone, leaving only a letter before boarding a train to the provincial capital.
At the station, the seven of them boarded smoothly. The three excited boys scrambled to the upper bunks, while Luna and Luna Whitaker took the lower ones for easier supervision. Luna Whitaker’s heart was uneasy, filled with apprehension about the unknown life awaiting them in the city.
The train journey passed smoothly, and soon they arrived in the provincial capital. The moment Luna stepped out of the station, she spotted Andrew waiting at the exit. Their eyes met, and both smiled at the same time. Luna waved happily, all her worries vanishing in that instant.